Before you get started with your spring cleaning checklist, make sure your cleaning tools are actually clean themselves.

How To Wash Your Washing Machine

Disinfect with distilled white vinegar and baking soda — the omnipotent cleaning duo. Run with hot water, add the combo (for top loading machines, 3 to 4 cups of vinegar to ½ cup of baking soda; for front loading, ¼ cup of vinegar to 4 tablespoons of baking soda) as it agitates and let sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Restart the machine, let the water drain, wipe down, and air dry.

Got a load of whites to launder? Kill two birds with one stone: Brighten your whites and eliminate bacteria with hot water and bleach.

To prevent bacteria, mold and mildew from growing, Donna Smallin, author of Cleaning Plain & Simple, suggests always leaving the door open after running a load.

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